Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass
John Andrae
Extension Forage Agronomist
The University of Georgia
In earlier articles, improved seed-type bermudagrass varieties have been reviewed. While new
seed-type varieties have become a popular choice, the majority of improved bermudagrass hay
fields and pastures in Georgia are hybrids which do not produce viable seed and must be
established vegetatively. These hybrids are proven to produce high yields of quality hay, but
establishment is costly and should be managed to improve success. In this article, methods of
establishing and managing new stands of hybrid bermudagrass will be discussed.
Preparing for establishment.
For best results, bermudagrass should be established in a well-tilled field. Areas intended for
sprigging should have been prepared beginning in the fall. It is critical to eliminate common
bermudagrass from the field before hybrids are established as conditions favorable for hybrid
bermudagrass sprigs also favor the spread of common bermudagrass. Removal of common
bermudagrass should begin in summer during the year prior to sprigging. Multiple glyphosate
(i.e. Roundup or Touchdown) applications combined with tillage are needed. Contact your local
extension agent for more information regarding elimination of common bermudagrass.
It is also necessary to supply adequate nutrients for good establishment rates. Test soil and apply
lime, potash and phosphate according to recommendations. Inadequate nutrient levels will
decrease establishment rate and may result in establishment failure. Low pH decreases the
availability of beneficial nutrients like potassium and increases the availability of some toxic
elements like aluminum.
Variety selection.
Selecting the proper bermudagrass hybrid for your area, management style and needs is
important to long term stand productivity. Selecting a bermudagrass is not a decision that should
be taken lightly as there are important differences between hybrids. There is not enough space in
this article to adequately address this topic, so characteristics of selected hybrids will be
reviewed in detail in the March issue.
Establishment methods.
Hybrid bermudagrass varieties produce few viable seed and must be established from vegetative
material. Vegetative planting produces material that is genetically identical to the parent
material. Resultant plants are truly vegetative clones. So, unless some sort of rare genetic
mutation has occurred, plants sprigged from a certified Coastal nursery and planted in 2003
should be identical to the first Coastal plant that Dr. Burton selected in 1939.
There are two methods that can be used to establish bermudagrass vegetatively. Choosing which
method to use is dependent upon the hybrid to be established and the amount of risk that is
acceptable. Some varieties must be established from sprigs, while others can be established from
either sprigs or clippings.
Establishing from sprigs. All hybrids adapted to Georgia can be established with rhizome
material or ‘sprigs’. Specialized commercial equipment is now available for digging and
planting sprigs. In the early years of sprigging Coastal bermudagrass, material was dug with a
spring tooth harrow, accumulated with a side delivery rake, and loaded by hand onto trucks for
transport and sprigging.
Planting rates are typically measured in bushels which contain approximately 1,000 sprigs. A
minimum of 20 bushels of sprigs per acre should be used when establishing bermudagrass. For
more rapid coverage or for slow establishing varieties like Tifton 44, 30-40 bushels per acre
should be used.
Establishment failures are due to excessive planting depth are common. Sprigs and tops should
be harrowed in lightly into a moist site. A typical planting depth is around 2 inches, but sprigs
may be planted slightly deeper depending on moisture conditions. Sprigs planted over 3-4” deep
will have difficulty emerging and excessive planting depths will slow the establishment rate.
Many experienced commercial spriggers are available throughout Georgia. These operators have
the necessary equipment to dig, transport and accurately place sprigs. Investing in their services
is normally a wise choice as, along with sprigs and labor, you are purchasing many years and
thousands of acres of experience.
Establishing from culms, clippings or ‘tops’. Some hybrids can be established from clippings or
culms. This is simply aboveground vegetative material and is sometimes referred to as ‘tops’.
Tifton 44 and Midland will not establish from tops and must be sprigged. Russell, Tifton 85,
Alicia and Coastal will establish readily from tops if moisture conditions are favorable and
clippings are handled properly.
Clippings should be a minimum of six weeks old before harvesting and at least 18-24” tall.
Viability of tops decreases rapidly after forage is cut. Clippings quickly cure and die (just like
hay) on hot, dry days. Cut tops, bale immediately, and plant as quickly as possible- preferably
within a couple of hours. Bales of fresh clippings will be wet and extremely heavy, so decrease
packaging size to allow safe handling. Spread at least 1500 pounds per acre and lightly harrow
into the field. Firm the field immediately with a cultipacker after harrowing to conserve soil
moisture.
Clippings should be established early in the year to allow time for rooting and to take advantage
of wet weather. Establishment of clippings can be risky in sandy soils, as these soils are more
drought prone than heavy soils and are more likely to kill sprigs in dry weather.
Dormant sprigging.
It is possible to dig and plant sprigs in late winter before bermudagrass has broken dormancy. In
fact, sprigging immediately prior to greenup holds some important advantages over later
establishment dates. First, there is typically dependable rainfall and soil moisture during this time
of the year. Sprigs will contain more stored carbohydrates when they are dormant than a few
weeks after greenup. This is important because carbohydrates are the “fuel” used to sprout roots
and leaves for establishment. Higher carbohydrate levels mean that sprigs will be more vigorous.
Early establishment also should provide a “headstart” on annual warm season weeds like
crabgrass. Dormant sprigging certainly won’t eliminate this problem, but anything that
diminishes crabgrass competition is beneficial.
In early spring, soil temperatures will be low, so bermudagrass will be slower to emerge. In
addition, multiple late freezes can cause establishment problems, so quality sprigs with good
energy reserves should be used when dormant sprigging. Benefits of sprigging early in the spring
greatly outweigh the detriments, and dormant sprigging is a management practice that should
practiced more frequently.
Follow-up.
Fertility. Managing for a good stand has just begun after sprigs or tops have been planted. Apply
40 pounds of nitrogen per acre when bermudagrass begins to emerge. An additional 40-50
pounds can be applied when rows begin to overlap or at four to six week intervals until late
summer. Split nitrogen applications will decrease losses from leaching and prevent grassy weeds
from utilizing nitrogen early in establishment.
Weed control. There are currently no preemergent herbicides that are labeled for newly sprigged
hybrid bermudagrass fields to control crabgrass or other annual grassy weeds. The Section 18
use permit was not renewed for Zorial so this chemical is no longer legal to apply for
preemergent or postemergent annual grass control. Application of Plateau during bermudagrass
establishment will severely injure or kill bermudagrass so is not labeled for use on newly
sprigged fields. Currently, the only practice labeled for preemergent crabgrass control is to apply
2 quarts of 2,4-D. This will provide weak control of crabgrass for 21-28 days.
Grazing and clipping management.
Grazing or clipping bermudagrass fields during the establishment year will help to control
shading from annual weeds and expose bermudagrass “runners” to light. This light exposure will
encourage plants to spread and typically gives the bermudagrass an advantage over weeds with
more upright growth habits. Fields should be grazed in “mob” fashion by stocking with a high
animal density for a short grazing period. This flash grazing minimizes animal selection and
should remove all grass species without undue stress on bermudagrass. Stocking with lower
animal numbers for long grazing periods may result in animals selecting bermudagrass which
will decrease its competitiveness with weeds.
Hopefully these tips will help in successfully establishing hybrid bermudagrass varieties. With a
little planning and favorable weather, bermudagrass establishment will be a productive and
positive undertaking.